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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2007-12-19, Page 23Wednesday, December 19, 2007 SPORTS Times -Advocate 23 Seminar romotes healthyds and bodies p EXETER — The Exeter Skating Club (ESC) took an active approach to promot- ing healthy body images and self esteem with a seminar at South Huron District High School on Saturday that saw 'Body Sense' talk to skaters, coaches and parents. The workshop was put on by the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport along with the Ontario Trillium Foundation ESC coach Kathy McLlwain said Body Sense and the ESC believe that an affirmative sport environment can facili- tate the development of posi- tive character traits like per- severance, responsibility, integrity and a strong and positive sense of self and body. Some of the points covered by the seminar included: • What you believe - Look at your own attitudes and beliefs about food, excessive body weight and shape. Change starts from within; • Get the facts - Parents, coaches and athletes should seek and share reliable, up to date information about health and wellness issues; • Respect natural body size - Treat each person as an individual with unique body size, shape and weight. Accept that each athletes has a natural body size and shape and avoid measuring an athletes body in any way; • Reinforce a positive approach to food - Help oth- ers learn to listen to their bodies. Eat for energy, enjoyment and satisfaction and resist pressure to change natural body size; • Promote Positive self esteem - Help athletes to Health and wellness — Local skaters got some tips on staying healthy on and off the ice on Saturday at a seminar on self esteem at South Huron District High School put on by the Exeter Skating Club and Body Sense. Back from left are Lauren Moore, Kylie Pincombe, Kristen Walsh, Abbey Caldwell, Hunter Millian, Keeley Park and Kathleen Gregus. Middle: Hallie McArter, Evelyn Walsh, Shay -Lynn Durand, Maddy Dalrymple, Mackenzie Ansems and Hayley Hoffman. Front: Mackenzie Holtzmann, Laken McArter, Kristie Dietrich, Kirsten Brintnell, Sarah Kwajafa, Kyla Hunt-Beach,Taylor Mathers,Abby Oke and Will Kwajafa. (photo/submitted) feel good about themselves, tive ways; and develop a positive con- • Role modeling - cept of who they are; Understanding that who we • Invite assertion - are, what we say, and what Encourage athletes to be we do, impacts our athletes assertive about expressing who look to us as examples; values, feelings, and needs; • Balance — Promote a • Cope in healthy ways - sense of balance between Teach athletes stress man- sport participation and life agement, coping, problem- outside of sport. solving skills, and assertive- A presentation by ness so that they are able to McLlwain covered a variety deal with challenges in posi- of topics in an athletes world and the people involved that seminar saw excellent feed - make it work. back. Some of the topics covered "It makes a big difference included eating for compet- in an athletes world, being ing, off -ice training and informed, educated and injury prevention, mental understanding the sport and preparation, staying focused, what is involved," said proper training habits, com- McLlwain. petition pressures and being a skater/acting like a skater. McLlwain said there was a great turnout from skaters, coaches and parents and the Baseball Hall of Fame presents Tip O'Neill award ST. MARYS — In only his second full season in the Major Leagues, Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Russell Martin has been selected as the recipi- ent of the 2007 Tip O'Neill Award, presented annually to the Canadian player judged to have excelled in indi- vidual achievement and team contri- bution while adhering to baseball's highest ideals. While a strong case could have been made for Justin Morneau, Jeff Francis and Erik Bedard, the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame announced in November that the 2007 Tip would not be shared. Matt Stairs, Ryan Dempster and Jason Bay weren't far behind the front-runners in the voting. "I'm simply overwhelmed," said Martin from his Montreal home. "I'd trade this and my other individ- ual awards for a few more wins and a trip to the post -season, but I do play hard and I play with passion, and obviously people appreciate that." Martin, 24, started for the National League in the 2007 All-Star Game, was named by The Sporting News as the NL All-Star Catcher, and was recently awarded both a Golden Glove and a Silver Slugger Award. Larry Walker is the only other Canadian to ever win a Gold Glove (seven times), while Walker (three times) and Morneau (once) are the only previous Canucks to take home a Silver Slugger. Martin set virtually every Canadian catcher single -season record except triples, highlighted by his 19 home- runs, 87 RBI, 87 runs, 158 hits, 32 doubles, .374 on base percentage (all second on the Dodgers), not to men- tion his 21 stolen bases (third on the Dodgers). Martin batted .293, had a slugging percentage of .469, and was also nominated for the Hank Aaron Award. "None are more deserving of this prestigious honour," chimed in Dodger legend Tommy Lasorda from Los Angeles, who was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006. "I watched this young man switch positions from third base to catcher. I observed all the hard work, effort, desire and sacrifice he put into learn- ing the new position and now he is the best." Born in East York, Ontario, but raised in Montreal, Martin was origi- nally drafted in the 35th round by the Montreal Expos in 2000 upon graduat- ing from Polyvalente Edouard- Montpetit High School, the same high school that former Dodger Eric Gagne attended. Like Gagne, he played for the Academy of Baseball Canada pro- gram in his senior year, and then for Team Canada that summer. Unsigned by the Expos, Martin then attended Chipola Junior College in Florida, where he did not get drafted at all after his first year, but was selected in the 17th round by the Dodgers in the 2002 draft following his second year. "I played for some great coaches growing up, namely my dad (Russell Sr.), Richard Emond, Alex Agostino, Greg Hamilton, and Jeff Johnson," Martin said. "My dad not only taught me the proper skills, but he trained me on how to focus. (Chipola JC) Coach Johnson was a perfectionist, tough but fair. The rest just knew so much and each had their own styles in passing on their experience." Martin played at every level in the Dodgers system, beginning with Rookieball, then stops at A, Double -A, and Triple -A on his way to the big leagues. "I'm just a sponge, and picked up so much valuable knowledge along the way, especially in making the transi- tion from a third baseman to a catch- er." "Becoming a catcher not only found me a home defensively in pro ball, but it really taught me more about hitting than I could imagine. Working togeth- er with pitchers strategizing how to get hitters out gave me a much better approach offensively at the plate." "It is the same with stealing bases. I'm not that fast, certainly not a 20 - stolen -base guy fast, but catching taught me how to read pitchers and pick the right time to run." When asked about his fellow coun- trymen who he edged to win his first Tip O,Neill Award, Martin had this to say about them: Jeff Francis is big-time deceptive, and pitches with complete composure. He is unpredictable and has pinpoint control. He's smart, has a great feel for the game and executes his game plan." "I don't get to see Erik Bedard as much because he's in the American League, but I remember getting a hit off of him in spring training. It was like the second hit he'd allowed all spring! He's sneaky fast and has good movement. It's like he throws an invisible fastball. "Justin Morneau is the man, an unbelievable competitor, and a total professional. He just keeps getting bet- ter, because he won't accept anything less and always feels he can do better. His attitude makes him the consum- mate professional. "These three and also Matt Stairs, Ryan Dempster and Jason Bay -they are just all class acts on the baseball field who make me proud to be a Canadian. Anytime my name can be mentioned in the same sentence as them is fine by me" Martin couldn't play for Team Canada in the inaugural World Baseball Classic as he was trying to establish himself as a professional in the Dodgers system, but is already looking forward to suiting up for his nation in 2009. The Dodgers don't play in Toronto in 2008, so the Tip O'Neill Award will be presented by the Canadian Ball Hall to Martin early in the 2008 season either at Dodger Stadium or possibly Comerica Park, as the Dodgers are slated to visit the Detroit Tigers for Interleague action in mid-June.